In reality, the internet is flooded with cheap, hastily-made violins, all priced impossibly low. They may look like a bargain, but what you save in price, you pay for in quality.

A bad setup affects everything from the fingerboard to the pegs, leaving you with a poor tone that’s squeaky and abrasive. But cheap violins don’t just sound bad — they also make your practice harder.

What are red flags to watch out for? Below we list the top common problems all ultra-cheap violins have.

Common Problems

A cheap violin may look good at first glance. But look deeper and you will find structural problems buried under layers of thick, glossy varnish. That is because some manufacturers cut corners and use poor materials to mass produce violins quickly.

Fingerboards

Quality fingerboards are made with dense and durable ebony. But cheap imitations sometimes use light wood painted black. If the fingerboard’s underside has brown patches, the wood is too soft and will warp quickly, causing the strings to buzz and rattle.

Warped Bridges

On a well-made violin, the bridge is custom carved to fit the arch of the violin’s top. The top of the bridge is arched and sloped down to the E-string, creating the proper angle to bow each string.

But poorly made bridges can be too thick, with arching that makes the strings too similar to each other in height. This makes it difficult to play on one string without hitting another. If the arch is too flat, your strings will vibrate against the fingerboard. If the strings are too high, they will cause tension that makes it harder to play.

The Purfling

The purfling is a thin layer of inlaid wood that lines the shape of a violin. Purflings are precisely cut and secured with glue, making the “hem” for a violin. They serve a purpose too, strengthening edges and preventing cracks from spreading into the body.

In a lower quality violin, the purfling may be painted or drawn onto the top and back plates. The lines might appear flat or shiny and seem to sit on top of the varnish or wood. In worse cases, the lines may be uneven, wobbly, or look like they were drawn with a pen.

The Pegs

Pegs hold the strings in place and are made from dense hardwoods like ebony, rosewood, or boxwood. In a cheap violin, they’re often made of soft brown wood that will slip, stick, or break off in your hands. Poorly made pegs don’t fit right in the peg box and will cause the instrument to go out of tune more regularly.

Strings

High-quality violin strings have a core (synthetic or gut) wrapped in precious metals like gold, silver, or aluminum. This allows a string to vibrate with warmth and resonance.

Bad strings made of cheap steel, however, are tinny and harsh. Because they lack the flexibility to vibrate deeply, the sound becomes thin, metallic, and sharp. Plus, the low-grade quality can make the strings feel stiff when playing, even painful.

Better Alternatives

Simply experimenting with the violin or worried your child might quit? Buying a cheap violin may seem practical, but it often backfires.

You might save money upfront, only to realize the instrument is hard to play, doesn’t sound good, and makes practicing frustrating. Plus, a substandard instrument is often why many students quit.

Investing in a quality violin changes the entire experience. But if you’re not ready to commit, renting is a smart way to start. Professional luthiers can help find the right fit and adjust the setup, so you get an instrument with great tone, and is fun to play!

Since 1976, Johnson String Instrument has provided the nation’s most complete rental program. Our violin rentals are hand-selected, set up, and repaired in-house for trusted performance. And when you’re ready to size up or buy, rental fees go toward your purchase.

From entry-level setups to proper adjustments, we fine tune the details so players can perform their best.